We recently connected with Ryan Vance and have shared our conversation below.
Ryan, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
My creativity never really dies, I mean I’m always thinking. That’s something that for better or worse, that I don’t really have the ability to stop, which can suck at times. I guess I spend a lot of time focusing on and planning out what I want to like consume creatively. Usually depending on what I’m working on, that kind of motivates my viewing habits or whatnot. I try to just always watch something every day, there’s something rewarding in it for me. I find myself I guess more and more attached to every person that had even the slightest bit of work involved with creating a movie. Even if I despise whatever I’m watching, it’s incredibly moving to think about all the work people that contribute to something. I guess that deviated from the question but, I’d say I just try to watch things every day, I’m trying to read more, and otherwise just writing even the smallest thing once a day. It’s amazing how much that helps stay consistent.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an independent filmmaker, I ususally spend most nights of my week working on screenplays or writing in some capacity. Otherwise I direct and produce projects, my most recent short film, What’s The Matter?, premiered at LA Shorts International Film Festival this past summer. Most of my work is inspired by New Hollywood of the 60s/70s, 30s screwball comedies, and exploitation films. Filmmakers such as Elaine May, John Waters, Luis Bunuel, Peter Bogdanovich, and the Coen Brothers have left an indelible impact on my view of cinema. I’ve always been drawn to filmmakers and movements that use humor and genre to reflect on socio-politics of the moment. This is the same milieu I hope my films are representative of.
More recently, I’ve been working on a couple of feature film screenplays, one of which I’m writing with the plan to make into a low budget independent film. I’ve directed mainly shorts up until this point, and have another two I’d like to shoot before the year is over, but getting an independent feature film made is my main priority as of right now. It will continue to be an uphill battle, as independent funding is never easy to come by, but that is where I guess some of the joy should come from.
Outside of this I am continuing my passion of purchasing physical media and I do not look to stop that anywhere in the near future. My blu-ray collection has grown in massive numbers over the past two years and it brings me an immense amount of joy. Highly recommend to anyone who loves movies or music, please buy physical media. Blu-rays, DVDs, 4KUHD, Vinyl, they are the best way you can watch and listen to art and who doesn’t love being able to hold a cool thing in their hand.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I’m not going to act like I have any of the answers, I’m still figuring out my own stuff, but I guess the main thing that’s helped me the most in my journey so far that I’d say is undeniably important, would be learning everything you possibly can about whatever path you’re pursuing. Not just technical skills but knowledge of history, learning the logistics of how systems work, companies work ,etc etc. Everything that has gone my way career wise up until this point has been because of how much time I just spend understanding history. I think this goes hand and hand but it is also very important to have a level of reverence for your field and those who have come before you and will come after. It’s very apparent and pretty telling when there is not a level of care for those things. Lastly, I guess learning how to manage social settings. It’s a weird thing where you can’t be too forward trying to connect with people or share your art with them, but also you need to make yourself known to the right people.
The only advice I’d give is to love what you do, because these things will develop and come more naturally. Spend time doing the things that interest you, that connect you with the world, that connect you with people around you. These and other skills all will come with that.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m always looking for people to collaborate with, I love writing for people, I’d love to direct more, I’ve been trying to get more opportunities in casting and I think it is just one of the coolest parts of the industry. I mean I love actors, I’m dating one so that I guess is proof, but they’re great. If you are a creative of any kind,I just think hanging out with, talking to, and working with other creatives on anything is so important. I’m always open to collaboration of all kinds, so please reach out.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanvance13/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-vance-1aa96a15b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJGBPtPFwCGR3TpNM-_Umpw
